As some of you know, our car program is under the patronage of the martyr St. Christopher. Since there are two martyr saints of the Catholic Church named Christopher, which one is it?
The first St. Christopher lived in the third century and was martyred during the reign of the Roman emperor Decius. Little else is known of his life. His name means ‘Christ-bearer.’ I have a first class relic and a beautiful statue of St. Christopher with the Child Jesus on his shoulder. He is said to have carried the child Jesus across a river and as the child grew heavier and heavier, St. Christopher was told, “It is because I am carrying the sins of the world.” He is the patron saint of travelers.
The other St. Christopher was born in Jalisco, Mexico. He was ordained a priest and was martyred along with 21 other devout priests and three lay Catholics during the early 20th century during an attempt by the government to stamp out the Catholic Church. He was martyred May 21, 1922 at the age of 57 as he forgave his killers. He was canonized by Pope John Paul II May 21, 2000.
Our St. Christopher Car Program is under the patronage of the St. Christopher who was martyred in the third century, the patron saint of travelers (some are tempted to think I named the program after this St. Christopher because I am named after him, but it providentially happened). We at Catholic Social Services are delighted to have such a powerful witness to the Catholic faith as the patron of this important program.
Recently, a man named Al Vybiral donated his mother’s beautiful 1999 Buick Lesabre custom four-door sedan that was driven mostly to Mass and to the store. As you can imagine, it is in great shape. He said the only defects were a back window that did not work and a non-functioning tail light. After repairing the tail light, he drove it to our office for the easy and simple transaction. Al remembered reading about our St. Christopher car program about a year ago and never forgot it. He had been driving the car until recently. Now, having purchased another car, he decided to donate it to Catholic Social Services.
I reminded him when someone donates a vehicle to us, it is either given away to someone in need, placed in our fleet, or sold and the profits used to fund our many programs.
Several weeks ago, after seeing the look on the face of the young women who received a car from us, I said to Curt Krueger (the manager of social services in the eastern sector of the diocese), “There is nothing like giving a vehicle away!”
But we can only give away vehicles that are donated to us. The “Cash for Clunkers’ program was a downer for us! Many perfectly good vehicles were crushed.
When you are at the point of purchasing a different vehicle, or if you have one you’re not driving, please prayfully consider donating it to Catholic Social Services. You will be killing two birds with one stone- making a deposit to your retirement account in heaven while getting a tax break in this life. St. Christopher, pray for us!!
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